Etjel-feed-cjontbolling device



A. l... BALL FUEL FEED CoNTPwLLnuG DEVICE Filed May 16. 1923 l gew/mulini;

Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

,UNT-TED STATES ARLrNGToN L. BALL, or TIPTON, INDIANA.

FUEL-FEED-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Application filed May 16, 1923. Serial No. 639,347.

This invention relates to improvements in fuel feed-controlling devices, and it has more particular reference to a device of this kind adapted for feeding liquid-hydrocar- 5 bon to burners for heating hovers and the like.

Theprimary object of my invention is the provision of a liquid-fuel feed-controlling device in which the usual regulating needle I and parts associated therewith for adjusting the needle, are dispensed with.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of this kind whereby the liquid fuel is fed from a part to which it is delivered by capillary attraction, the fuel being allowed to drip from said part in regulated quantities, depending on the position of said part.

A furtherobject of my invention is to provide a liquid-fuel feed-controlling device. in-

. cluding an element which absorbs the fuel,

and means for delivering the fuel from said element at any desired speed within certain limits.

A still further object of my invention is the production of a device of this kind by means of which the liquid fuel can be fed in the desired quantities and be so maintained, and one which is inexpensive to 30 manufacture, and absolutely safe.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

ln the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved liquid-fuel feedscontrolling device and parts associated therewith for feeding liquid fuel thereto and delivering the same in regulated or controlled quantities therefrom.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 2,2, Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of thev arrow crossing said line.

Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of the movable control element.

Fig. 6 is a detached perspective view of the cover of the casing in which said control element is located. j

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 7 designates a support or controller casing 14 mounted thereon.

bracket which has a small cup-like fuel-V receiver S'formed at one end thereof and into which is threaded a feed pipe 9 adapted to be led to a burner to which liquid fuel, in controlled quantities, is to be delivered by means of this improved liquid fuel control# ling device. Tlie bracket 7 may be supported by means of the feed pipe 9, or in any other suitable manner, and in turn it supports a liquid fuel tank or can 10, which is open at the top and supports an inverted bottle or other fuel container 11, said bottle or container having a neck 12 depending axially therefrom and extending a distance into the tank or can. The lower end of this neck determines or may determine the level of the liquid fuel in the tank or can 10. The bottle or container 11 is filled with the liquid fuel and when inverted and sup ported by the tank or can serves to supp y the latter with fuel and maintain a predetermined fuel level until the contents of the bottle or container is fully delivered.

The tank or can is preferably cylindrical in cross section and the bottle or con-v tainer is of similar formation; however, it may be otherwise formed, if desired. In the cylindrical, or what I shall term vthe side wall, of the tank or can, an opening is formed above the level of the liquid fuel therein, and fixed in this openingis a tube 13, which extends a distance outwardly and inwardly from said cylindrical side wall, the outer end being hanged and having a The controller casing as shown in Fig. 4 is cylindrical in cross section, and the tube 13 enters said casing off-center, preferably to one side and above the axis of saidcasing.

15 designates a movable control element in the form of an angular tube or tubular elbow, one arm 16 of which is entered in the fixed tube 13 and the other arm 17 of which is adapted to be swung in an arc of a circle within the control casing 14.

18 designates an absorbent element which may be in the form of twisted strands of cotton or other suitable material, this absorbent element being comparatively long, and one end thereof is inserted into the movable control element 15, the extremity at said end projecting out of the free end of said movable control element and being retained within a tapering adjunct 19 in the form of thin metallic straps crossing each other and bent into substantially V-shape,

I latter driptothe cup-like the free ends being-soldered or otherwise secured'to the free end of said movable control element or tubular elbow 15. VSecured to said adjunct, or' cageAas-itmay be "ernied, is a drip element 2O in the form of a com paratively thin bai` or needle soldered to the outer end of the cage 19 and disposed at an angle thereto, the free endof'saiddrip element or'needle being always the-low pointV -K in the usual way.v The lneedle 2O at the outerfend of the movable control element 15. mayy therefore be termed a transfer needle, as will. be hereinafter morek particularly i e1:- plained. y

llVhenpositioning one end4 of the absorbV ent element in the movable control element 15,. the major portion of this absorbent element hangs freely from said control element, and in placing the control. element in posi-` tion, it is neeessaryto lirstpkass the hanging or free portion of said absorbent element throughthe fixed tube ldfastened to the peripheral or side wall'fof the tank Yor can 10, after which the arm 16'ofthe'movable control element or tubular-ellhow15 may be inserted into the fixed tube 13. The inner or free portion of the absorbent inaterial'is then passed through supporting rings Z8 formedion'arms Qeisoldered'to the bottom of the tank or canv 10, these 'arms rising from said .bottom lto, elevate the supporting rings. That portion of the absorbentmaterial extending into the tankl or can is ar ranged ,in a sort of loop formation so that all ypartsthereof from a pointnearthevinner end of .thefixed tube 13 are subn'ierged in the liquid fuel within said .tank or can; c

The control lcasingle is open atits outer endv and it hase segmental flange' 25 'rising from the` edge ,of its, cylindricaly wall along the lower portion tliereof, as indicated by dotted lines in. Fig.A 4f This-prevents the escape of liquidfuel from the controlch'amber inthe event. that there should`be van accumulation of thesame thereinQ The open end of said control casingis closedby a cover 26 having an annularlange 27V fitting around the outer marginal 'portion tofthe control ,casing 14. vThis cover is fastened in place byvscrewsZS, one of, which passes through; the rear walloftl'ie control casing and has a nut29 applied theretoand the other being threaded linto a nut 30 soldered to` the inner or end: wall of"A said' contro! casing, as best shown in Fig. t.'

31 Adesignates a regulating' lever pivotally securedfitotheouter side of the cover 26 of the control casing, which cover, in a broad sense, maybeconsidered as part of said control casing. The outer end of said lever is pointed, asv atf32, and near said pointed end a handle 33 is provided for conveniently( manipulating, said lever. The pivot 34:,'by means of which said'` lever is pivotally secured to the cover4 26, extends through a second lever larranged at the inner side of the cover, said pivot serving'as a center on which both the` regulating lever 31 andjthe lever 35, which may be'referred to as an actuating lever, swing. T he actuating lever is somewhat shorter than. the 'regulating lever 81, and'itf is provided with an inwardly extending piniSG. y

Onthe arm 17 tubular elbow, a guide'strap 37 Yis arranged, said 'straprb'eing'parallellwith said arm and the ends thereofbeing Ysoldered or otherwise fastened to saidlarm, as at 3S. The pin"3(i of the actuating lever 35'enters the parallel sided space between said strap, andthe arm 17 and therefore on swinging said levers, said pin ,36 will .swing the arm 17 of the control member either to ,the right or left, the lowermost position ofsaid armbeing indicated by full lines in Fig. 4, andthe Vhighest posi-V tion by dotted lines in said figure.

On the outer side ofthecover 26 asegmental guide ribY 40 is formed and along said guide rib, indication marks are provided to disclose thedegree of feed given the liquidE fuel. Opposite the high point of ysaid guide ribthe word Off is arranged. Opposite f the low point thereof the word On, andv betweenl the words Off andfOn, ,numerals 1, 2, 3 and l, designating different/stages of feeding fuel, the numeral 1 indicating, approximately theI slowest feed, and each'increasing numeral a larger feed until the full supply is being fed, at which time the lever points to the word.On..V Vhen theleverv is swung to pointto Athe word Of`f., the control element' 15 willbe in the position indicated by dottedk lines in Fig. fand-under such conditions that'y portionv ofrthe absorbent element or wicking extending.. through the fixed tube and into andthrough the control element 15 will be above thel levelof the liquid fuel withinthe tank or can 10. No liquid fuel will, under lsuoli conditions, be fed into thecontrol casing 14. However, when swinging the arm 17`of'said `control element downwardlyby reasonof the actuatinglever beingswung from thevword Off to the numeral 1, a small portion of the wicking 18 within. the cont-rol element will be below the levelfof the liquid fuel in the tank' or can 10, with `the result that a of the controlelement orvns very small quantity of fuel will drip from the wicking and be delivered into the control casing so as to escape through the opening 21 of the latter, in doing which, it passes down along the needle 22 in the same proportion and at the same speedfthat it was transferred to said needle 22 from the needle 20. The needles 2O and 22 are of the same diameter, and thus assure an even dripping of the liquid fuel from the needles 2O and 22. Y

Further lowering of the regulating lever 3l positions a larger area of wicking within the fuel control casing below the level of the liquid within the tank or can l0, and allows proportionately larger quantities of liquid to be transferred from the needle 2O into the casing to be delivered bythe needle 22 tothe receiving cup 8 for final delivery to the burner. It is, of course,

understood that as the regulating lever 3l is swung in one or the other direction, the actuating lever 35 will be swung in a corresponding direct-ion, causing the actuating' pin 36 to move in an arc of a circle and either force the arm 17 ofthe tubular elbow or control element upwardly, or pull said arm downwardly by reason `of its action against the strap 37.

Having thus described my what I claim is A l. The combination with a tank having liquid Vfuel therein and an opening in its side wall above the level of said liquid fuel, of a control casing outside of said tank, an elongated absorbing element extending from the liquid fuel in said tank outwardly through the opening in the latter and having its outer end adjustably arranged in said control casing to deliver liquid fuel into said casing in different quantities according to the adjustment of said absorbent element therein, and means for delivering the liquid fuel from said control casing, drop by drop.

2. The combination with a tank having liquid fuel therein, of a tube positioned in said tank above the level of the liquid therein, a control element pivotally mounted in said tube, an elongated absorbing element having a portion thereof submerged in the liquid fuel in said tank and a portion thereof carried by said control element, and means for swinging said control element with said tube as its center to bring the feeding end of said control element above 0r at any desired point below the level of the liquid fuel within said tank.

3. The combination with a liquid fuel tank, of a tube secured in the side wall thereof, a control casing with which said tube communicates, a tubular elbow having one arm thereof rotatable in said tube and its other arm extending therefrom, an absorbent element having part thereof subinvention,

merged in the liquid fuel in said tank and part thereof passing through said tubular elbow, and means manipulated fromv the outside of said control casing for swinging said tubular elbow in an arc of a'circle.

4. The combination with a liquid fuel tank, of'a tube secured in the side wall thereof and extending outwardly and inwardly therefrom,.a control casing carried by said tube, a tubular elbow having one arm thereof rotatable in said tube and its other arm extending therefrom within said control casing, absorbent material in elongated form extending through said tube and tubular elbow and having a portion extending from said tube into the liquid fuel in said tank, a regulating lever at the outside of said control casing, and means between said regulating lever and said tubular elbow for swinging the latter in an arc of a circle to position all portions of the absorbent material therein above the level of the liquid fuel in said tank or to move different portions of said materialrbelow the level of said liquid fuel.

5. The combination with a liquid fuel tank, of a control casing adjacent said tank, a tubularelbow arranged within said control casing to swing inV an arc kof a circle, absorbent material in elongated form extending from the liquid fuel in saidtank outwardly into said tubular elbow. andprojecting therefrom, a regulating lever pivotally secured to one wall of said control casing, an actuating lever operated by said regulating lever, and means between said actuating lever and said tubular elbow for swinging the latter in lopposite directions.

6. The combination with a liquid fuel tank,.of a control casing adjacent said tank having an'opening at a low point, an absorbent element extending from the liquid fuel in said tank outwardly into said control casing and having an angular portion within said casing adapted for movement in an arc of a circle, and means for swinging said angular portion in an arc of a circle to move the same above the level of the liquid in said tank or in any desired proportion beneath said level.

7. The combination with a liquid fuel tank, of a control casing adjacent said tank having a liquid fuel escape opening, an elongated absorbent element extending from the liquid fuel in said tank outwardly into said control casing and having anangular portion within said casing, means enclosing part of said angular portion, said angular portion having its outer extremity exposed and means for swinging said angular portionin an arc of a circle to position the exposed extremity thereof above the level of the liquid fuel in said tank or in any desired proportion beneath said level.

8. The combination with a Vliquid fuel lon - pivotally mounted Y trol casine'ad'acentsaid tank o en' tanlno'l' a control casingv adjacentsaidtank having an opening and a drip needle extending. from said'open'ing a tubular elbow in said controlA casing above and toY one sideo'f' the axis thereo, an elongated absorbent elementi extending from the liquid in said tank outwardly into said tubular elbow and projecting from the tree end'of the latter, atransfer needle carriedby said tubular elbowl iron'i'wliiol 'fuel dripsY inv quantities delivered by said ab` so'rlien't material, and means for swinging said tubular elbow in an arc of' a'eircle.'

The combination with a liquidi 'fuel tank having liquidf fuel therein, of Ya.' con# `at 'one end andhaving a cover secured tosaid open euch said casing having a liquid fuel escape opening and a needle ot smaller diameter than said opening extendingtherethrouglna tubular elbow arranged for' swingingn'iove` ment within said'control easiiigaudhaving a'cage at its outer end,r andatransfer needle carried by saidcage, an elongatedabsorbent element extending from the liquid fuel in said tank outwardly through said tubular elbow and into the cage atfthe outer end'of said elbow, and .ni'ealns 'on' said cover,` for.

swinging said tubular elboii-7r to' r'position'v said transfer needle at diilierent' elevations.

10. The combination-with al liquid tuel tanlQ'of acontrol'casiug adjacent saidft'ainl cylindrical fincross section `and iop'en at one end, said Casing having an ups'tandingfilange at its open end extending along the lower portion thereotand an escape opening at its` lowest point; a cover secured to said'casin-gt'or closing theopen end thereot@ a tubular 'elbow in said control casingha-ving-one arm adaptedto swing-nan arCo acircle,

meer/91 an" elongated absorbent elementxextendiiig from the liquidvtuel'in saidv tank into and througlr sai-d tubular elbow and projecting from the tree end oit'l its' swinging arm,v a cage attlie outer' end oty saidzswingingarm coniining the projecting portion ot said absorbent'eleine'nt, ax transfer needle on said cage Vreceiving the liquid fuel from said absorbent' element, aneedle extending through the escape opening in said control .casing and of smaller diameter than said opening,sa"regulatinglever pivotally secured to the outer side ot said'cover oit center there# of, an actuating leveratwthe innerI side of said cover op'eratedby said regulating lever, and a pin extendingii'iwardly `from said actuating lever andi-engaging said tubular elbow toswingthesame in an arc of' acirclewhen' said regulatinglever'is actuated.

1l; The combination withV a liquid fuel tank"7 oi" a control casing adjacent said liquid fuel-tank, a. tubular elbow within said-control casing'having one arir thereoffserving a" pivot and the other arm* extending there-from within said control' casing, said last-mentioned' arm having-1 aI strap secured thereto providing a parallel-sided slot, a cover for said control easing' a' regulating lever secured to the outerside' otsaidcover oli Center" thereof, an l actuating lever atk the inner side of said cover havingfits'axis coin`` cident with that of said regulating lever and being provided with an actuating=-pin eX- tending inwardly therefromfsaid pin being a'daptedto enter said parallel-sided slot, and means to deliverv liquid fuel from said con trol casing. f

In testimony whereof` I atlx myv signa ture. l

ARLINGTON L. BALL. 

